US2005262481A1PendingUtilityA1

Customizable toolbar creation and control

17
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 30, 2003Filed: Sep 30, 2004Published: Nov 24, 2005
Est. expirySep 30, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Julia Coulson
G06F 9/451
17
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A control computer is accessed to execute a toolbar building program to customize a standard toolbar. The control computer displays a builder form to receive input to define a customized function list for the toolbar. The builder form transfers the function list to the program to convert the function list into a customized toolbar. The toolbar is stored in a data structure having an XML file with at least one folder and source code for performing data processing. The data structure resides on a computer system for distribution to client computers having software applications that utilize the customized toolbar.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A system for customizing a software application comprising: 
 a customizable toolbar including a source code program having a plurality of means for processing data and a folder for storing said data processing means,    a hub having a file for storing the customizable toolbar and a memory storage device for storing said file thereon,    said hub connected to a plurality of remote clients,    each remote client having a software application residing thereon,    each software application having the ability to interface with said toolbar, and    said hub distributing said toolbar to the plurality of remote clients so that each of said client software applications accesses said toolbar.    
   
   
       2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  which includes: 
 security means for restricting access to said toolbar residing on said central unit memory device.    
   
   
       3 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  in which: 
 said security means includes a control program.    
   
   
       4 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said data processing means includes a plurality of icons for controlling said client software applications.    
   
   
       5 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said data processing means includes a plurality of prompts for controlling said client software applications.    
   
   
       6 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said data processing means produces templates.    
   
   
       7 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said data processing means produces forms.    
   
   
       8 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said data processing means includes macro symbols for executing macros.    
   
   
       9 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said data processing means produces auto signatures.    
   
   
       10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said file includes an XML file.    
   
   
       11 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said hub includes a computer.    
   
   
       12 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said hub includes a server.    
   
   
       13 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  which includes: 
 a toolbar administration application for monitoring said toolbar.    
   
   
       14 . A system as set forth in  claim 13  in which: 
 said hub includes said toolbar administration application residing thereon.    
   
   
       15 . A system as set forth in  claim 13  in which: 
 said toolbar administration application residing thereon includes a datalog function for monitoring interaction between said toolbar and said client software applications.    
   
   
       16 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 at least one of the remote clients includes a computer having a memory device for storing said toolbar, a display device for displaying said toolbar, and an interface device for facilitating access to said toolbar.    
   
   
       17 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said remote client computer includes a laptop computer.    
   
   
       18 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said remote client computer includes a PC.    
   
   
       19 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  which includes: 
 a network for connecting said hub to the remote clients.    
   
   
       20 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said hub automatically distributes said toolbar to said plurality of remote clients upon execution of said client software applications.    
   
   
       21 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  in which: 
 said client software application includes a word processing program.    
   
   
       22 . A method for providing custom toolbars to remote clients comprising: 
 accessing a toolbar building application for converting standard toolbar into custom toolbars,    executing the toolbar building application to create a custom toolbar for storing in a file residing on a control computer,    connecting the control computer to a client computer having a software application for utilizing the custom toolbar residing thereon,    transferring the custom toolbar from the control computer to the client computer so that the software application includes the custom toolbar, and    executing the software application to display the custom toolbar on the client computer so that software application utilizes the custom toolbar.    
   
   
       23 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes: 
 transferring the custom toolbar from a toolbar creation computer to the control computer.    
   
   
       24 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes: 
 protecting the toolbar building application with a password protection routine.    
   
   
       25 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes: 
 restricting access to the central computer with security protection means.    
   
   
       26 . A method as set forth in  claim 25  which includes: 
 protecting the central computer with a password protection routine.    
   
   
       27 . A method as set forth in  claim 25  which includes: 
 communicating a key code to the security protection means to provide selective access to the central computer.    
   
   
       28 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes: 
 displaying a fill-in form to acquire information to build the custom toolbar.    
   
   
       29 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes the step of: 
 automatically transferring the custom toolbar from the control computer to the client computer upon execution of the client computer software application that utilizes the custom toolbar.    
   
   
       30 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes: 
 monitoring interaction between the custom toolbar and the client computer software application residing on the client computer.    
   
   
       31 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  which includes: 
 logging custom toolbar usage on the client computer.    
   
   
       32 . A method for building a customized toolbar for providing to remote users comprising: 
 accessing to a control computer having a memory device to execute a toolbar building program and a standard toolbar residing in the control computer memory device,    displaying a builder form to receive input to define a function list for amending the standard toolbar to form a customized toolbar,    transferring the function list from the builder form to the toolbar building program to interface the function list with the toolbar building program,    executing the toolbar building program to convert the function list and standard toolbar into the customized toolbar, and    storing the customized toolbar in the control computer memory device.    
   
   
       33 . A method as set forth in  claim 32  which includes: 
 transferring the customized toolbar to a central server.    
   
   
       34 . A method as set forth in  claim 33  which includes: 
 connecting the central server to a plurality of clients having software applications residing thereon, and    distributing the customized toolbar to each of the clients so that the client software applications interface with the customized toolbar.    
   
   
       35 . A method as set forth in  claim 34  which includes: 
 protecting the central server with security means.    
   
   
       36 . A method as set forth in  claim 32  which includes: 
 storing the customizable toolbar in an XML file.    
   
   
       37 . A method as set forth in  claim 32  which includes: 
 connecting the control computer to at least one client computer having a primary software application and plurality of secondary software applications residing thereon, and    copying the customized toolbar to the client computer so that the primary software application utilizes the customized toolbar to execute the secondary software applications.    
   
   
       38 . A method as set forth in  claim 32  which includes: 
 providing a password to the control computer to access the toolbar building program and the standard toolbar residing in the control computer memory device.

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